Budget the top worry as legislative session reaches midpoint

BATON ROUGE — As Louisiana lawmakers reach the halfway mark of their regular session, new abortion restrictions are advancing, the governor’s main agenda items are questionable for passage and budget decisions are in limbo.

Only six bills — out of more than 1,600 filed for consideration — had received House and Senate passage and reached the governor’s desk by Friday. Those named a Calcasieu Parish highway after a slain state trooper and made largely technical changes to insurance laws.
The three-month session must end by June 6.

Finances Front and Center

Louisiana’s budget problems remain front and center in the session, with the state